Local opposition blocked 45 data center projects worth $68 billion in the second quarter of 2026 — data center investments reportedly still on track to hit $32 trillion by 2050

Local opposition blocked or delayed $68 billion in data center projects between April and June this year, according to a September 21 Bloomberg report citing data from research group Data Center Watch. The report says 30 state houses have implemented rules on data center location and resource consumption, with communities pursuing moratoriums on planned construction even before developers apply for permits. Conversely, hyperscalers have spent over $1 trillion on data infrastructure since 2023, with an additional $745 billion in Capex expected in 2026 alone.Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.